Report 2014–5197
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Prepared in cooperation with the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Seepage Investigation on the Rio Grande from Below Caballo Reservoir, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, 2012 Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5197 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey 2 1 3 4 Cover. 1. View of Westside Canal at Diversion at Mesilla Diversion Dam near Mesilla, New Mexico, June 27, 2012 (photograph by Jay Cederberg, U.S. Geological Survey). 2. View of Percha Dam recreation area at Caballo Lake State Park across Arrey Canal Diversion near Arrey, New Mexico, June 26, 2013 (photograph by Jay Cederberg, U.S. Geological Survey). 3. U.S. Geological Survey hydrologist Jay Cederberg conducting discharge measurement in Pence Lateral Wasteway 34A near Canutillo, Texas, June 28, 2012 (photograph by Rachel Powell, U.S. Geological Survey). 4. View downstream at Leasburg Main Canal near Radium Springs, New Mexico, June 27, 2012 (photograph by Jay Cederberg, U.S. Geological Survey). Seepage Investigation on the Rio Grande from Below Caballo Reservoir, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, 2012 By Mark A. Gunn and D. Michael Roark Prepared in cooperation with the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5197 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2014 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: Gunn, M.A., and Roark, D.M., 2014, Seepage investigation on the Rio Grande from below Caballo Reservoir, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, 2012: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5197, 17 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20145197. ISSN 2328-0328 (online) iii Acknowledgments The authors gratefully acknowledge the generous assistance of Derrick O’Hara, Rio Grande Project of the Bureau of Reclamation; James Narvez, Elephant Butte Irrigation District; and Robert Rios, El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1, for maintaining a constant state of the river and irrigation works during the measurements and providing their knowledge of the area and the irrigation system. The authors acknowledge Dr. Nabil Shafike for providing his review comments and assisting with initial planning efforts in the investigation. The authors also acknowledge assistance from Jerry Melendez, Bureau of Reclamation, with discharge measurements. The authors acknowledge assistance from Jason Short, Anthony McGlone, Jay Cederberg, Lauren Sherson, Rachael Powell, Mike Carlson, Andrew Bernard, Patrick Swift, and John Summers, U.S. Geological Survey, with discharge measurements and Dianna Crilley, Anne Marie Matherne, Nicole Thomas, and Lauren Breitner, U.S. Geological Survey, for technical assistance. iv v Contents Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope .......................................................................................................................................1 Description of the Study Area and Measurement Locations .................................................................2 Methods...........................................................................................................................................................2 Measurement of Surface-Water Discharge ....................................................................................2 Seepage Computation ........................................................................................................................10 Estimation of Uncertainty .........................................................................................................10 Net Seepage Gain or Loss and Estimation of Uncertainty ..................................................10 Results of Seepage Investigation on the Rio Grande from Below Caballo Reservoir, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas ....................................................................................................11 Reach 1, Rio Grande Below Caballo Reservoir to Rio Grande at Haynor Bridge ...................................................................................................................11 Reach 2, Rio Grande at Haynor Bridge to Rio Grande Below Mesilla Diversion Dam .........................................................................................................11 Reach 3, Rio Grande from Below Mesilla Diversion Dam to Rio Grande at Anthony–EP No. 1 ..................................................................................................................11 Reach 4, Rio Grande at Anthony–EP No. 1 to Rio Grande at El Paso .........................................15 Summary........................................................................................................................................................17 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................17 Figures 1. Map showing locations of U.S. Geological Survey Rio Grande discharge-measurement sites from below Caballo Reservoir, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, June 26–28, 2012 ..................................................................3 2. Diagram showing locations of U.S. Geological Survey Rio Grande discharge measurement sites from below Caballo Reservoir, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, June 26–28, 2012, and the relation of diversions, drains, and inflows to the river channel along the study reach .......................4 vi Tables 1. Locations of U.S. Geological Survey Rio Grande discharge-measurement sites from below Caballo Reservoir, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, June 26–28, 2012 ...........................................................................................................................5 2. Field measurements and observations, Rio Grande seepage investigation, June 26–28, 2012 ...........................................................................................................................7 3. Summary of measured discharge and the computed net seepage gain or loss in Reach 1, Rio Grande seepage investigation, June 26, 2012 ...............................12 4. Summary of measured discharge and the computed net seepage gain or loss in Reach 2, Rio Grande seepage investigation, June 27, 2012 ...............................13 5. Summary of measured discharge and the computed net seepage gain or loss in Reach 3, Rio Grande seepage investigation, June 28, 2012 ...............................14 6. Summary of measured discharge and the computed net seepage gain or loss in Reach 4, Rio Grande seepage investigation, June 28, 2012 ...............................16 vii Conversion Factors Inch/Pound to SI Multiply By To obtain Length foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km) Area acre 4,047 square meter (m2) acre 0.4047 hectare (ha) acre 0.4047 square hectometer (hm2) acre 0.004047 square kilometer (km2) square foot (ft2) 929.0 square centimeter (cm2) square foot (ft2) 0.09290 square meter (m2) square mile (mi2) 259.0 hectare (ha) square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) Volume acre-foot (acre-ft) 1,233 cubic meter (m3) acre-foot (acre-ft) 0.001233 cubic hectometer (hm3) Flow rate cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s) foot per day (ft/d) 0.3048 meter per day (m/d) SI to Inch/Pound Multiply By To obtain Length millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch (in.) Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows: °F=(1.8×°C)+32 Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (µS/cm at 25 °C). Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given in either milligrams per liter (mg/L) or micrograms per liter (µg/L). viii Seepage Investigation on the Rio Grande from Below Caballo Reservoir, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, 2012 By Mark A. Gunn and D. Michael Roark Abstract The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, conducted A seepage investigation was conducted by the U.S. a seepage investigation on the Rio Grande from below Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New Mexico Caballo Reservoir, N. Mex., to El Paso, Tex., to determine Interstate Stream Commission, along an approximately streamflow loss or gain in this approximately 106-mile 106-mile reach of the Rio Grande from